Commemorative gift box



1935- F. MILHENING COMMEMORATIVE GIFT BOX Filed Feb. 27, 1935 Z 5 J935. ff

Patented Jan. 22, 1935 NT OFFICE JY' COMlVIEMORATIVE GIFT BOX Frank Milhening, Chicago, Ill., assignor to J.

Milhening, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a

Illinois corporation of Application February 27, 1933, Serial No. 658,773

7 Claims.

' This invention relates to commemorative gift boxes, and has been illustrated in two forms, both embodying areceptacle especially Suitable for a gift and preferably having a commemorative medallion removably mounted in a portion of the box, which is relatively movable with respect to the gift container, so that in one position both the medallion and the gift may be clearly visible simultaneously, while inthe other position the gift is concealed behind the medallion. Heretofore, boxes in which gifts were received have usually had no significance, being just like any other box of the same kind. Though occasionally there may have been instances in which a plate was attached to the box having engraved thereon data commemorative of the occasion, yet ordinarily such plates were not very decorative, and many of the more refined people disliked the idea of displaying their names on the outside of a gift box. Furthermore, if plates were attached to the box, it would be preferable to attach them to the cover portion, and, according to prior practice, such plates would be hidden from view when the cover portion was opened. It therefore is an object of this invention to overcome these objections to previous gift boxes. This has been done by providing a decorative medallion arranged so that it does not disappear from view as the box is opened, and provided with suitable commemorative data preferably on the back thereof.

With this and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claims ap-' pended hereto.

In the drawing which illustrates an embodiment of the device, andwherein like reference characters aroused to designate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section substantially through the line 2:1:--2a: of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of another form of the,

invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the line 4a:4a: of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of a medallion such as might be used in either form of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a simplified form of the invention.

Although my invention may take many forms, only three have been chosen for illustration, One of these forms is shown in a size particularly adapted for some small gift, such as a wedding ring, this form being shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. Another form is shown in a size suitable for larger presents, such as a wrist watch,

and is shown in Figures 3 and 4. may be of any size.

In the first of these types the box comprises the outer shell 10 which includes the base 12,

end walls 14 and side posts 16 and medallion seat 18. Slidably mounted in the side posts 16 is a medallion 20, one possible front View of which is shown in Figure 1, and one possible rear view of which is shown in Figure 5. 1 Within the box is a container or tray 22 having end portions 24 to each of which is pivotally mounted one end of a link 26, which, at its other end, is pivoted to the base of the box ends 14. Secured to the front of the tray is a tab-like handle 28 formed of ribbon. A cushion may be carried by the tray, in which may be mounted the ring 30, or other gift. It will readily be seen that when the medallion has been slid upward to the position shown in Figure 2, in which position vit may be held by a suitable spring 32, the handle 28 may be grasped, and by it the tray 22 may be. swung out on the arms 26 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. In this position, the arms 26 fit into slots 34 between the side posts 16 and the medallion seat 18, so that the medallion may again be slid down onto its seat. The wedding ring or other gift is then mounted in front of the medallion with its support almost invisible except for the cushion, thus giving a very striking effect. It is preferred that the front of the medallion 20 be formed with some decorative and preferably significant design, and that all the data be on the rear, thereof where it will ordinarily be hid from view, but, where it may be inspected readily by withdrawing the medallion 20 from its slide, and ,of course, as shown in Figure 5, the rear of the medallion may. also have some decorative design formed thereon.

In the form of the box shown in Figures 3 and 4, a gift may remain stationary in a substantially complete open top box 40, the cover member 42 being mounted on said box andpreferably secured to each end by a pair of pivoted arms 44 and 46, asshown. These arms permit, the cover to lie flaton the box, as shown by the dotted lines on Figure 4, and hold it at a suitable angle for visibility when in its open position, as shown in Figure 4 in full lines, As it is opened, the front edge of the coveris shifted to'a'position'in juxtaposition to the rear edge of the box. Any position in the close vicinity of the rear edge of the box, so asto give ready access to the [interior of the'box would besatisfactory. Itispreferred that the arms operate in deep slots48 formed in the end walls of the box. The medallion if used may be permanently secured in place, or'it maybe removable, as desired. In.- the preferred form, which is illustrated, the cover member 42 is provided with an opening 50 therethrough, which is slightly smaller than the The third form medallion. The frame work 52 is built up around the opening, leaving a ledge 54 which forms a seat for the medallion. The frame work 52 is prefably ofssuch a snug fit as to hold the medallion in place'by friction, or by slightly overhanging its edge, as is the case with watch crystals. The opening 50 will enable the rear side of the medallion to be read and will also make it convenient to press the medallion out of its frame from the rear. Whatever the arrangement of the medallion, it would usuallybe preferred that it be mostly decorative on the front side, the

data being reserved for the, back side; which normally is not visible.

According to the modification shown in Figure. 6,-the cover 42' is hinged to the box 40' in any customary manner. A large hole 50' is formed through this cover, similar to the hole 50 of the form shown in Figure 3. The-framework 52 is recessed to form a ledge 54 on which the medallion 2G rests, being secured in this position by friction or otherwise. With this form of the invention it is noticed that the front or decorative side of. the medallion is visible when the box is closed, while the rear side having the data thereon is visible when the box is open. The lettering onthe back should be inverted with respect to the lettering on the front, so that as the medallion is inverted the lettering on the back will appear right side up. On account of this inversion it may be desirable for the medallionto be rectangular instead of rounded at the top, as shown in Figure 5. Another arrangement is to have the medallion rounded as shown, but to have the hole 50 cutto be rectangular or to berounded at its top when inverted.

All of the forms of thisinvention may be made from any suitable'material such as wood, metal or a plastic, the plasticprobably being preferred when the production is extensive All of these forms show the medallion holder pivotally linked to the gift holder, so as to permit both the-gift and the medallion'tobe visible simultaneously, or'to permit the concealing or hiding of the gift behind the medallion.

It is to be understood that many other embodiments of the invention, including some in improved form, will be apparent, and in the course of timemore will be devised by those skilled in the art. It is not desired that this invention be limited to the details described, for its scope includes all such forms or improvements ascome within'the spirit of the following claims, construed as-"b'r'oadly'as the prior art will permit.

What is claimed is: i

1. A giftcontainer including a box anda cover connected'to'gether by two pairs of links each pivoted'at one end to the cover and at the other end to the box, the length and shapes of thelinks and the positions'of their pivots being such that theforwardedge of the coverin opened position rests in the close vicinity of theupper rear edge of thebox, and-the cover has an angular position in which it faces forwardly more than in its closed position. a 1

2. A gift containerincluding a box and a cover connected together bytwo pairsof links 'each pivoted at one: end to the cover and at theother end to the box, the length and shapes of-- the links and the positions of their pivotsbeing such that the forward-edge of thecoverin opened'po- "sition rests in juxtaposition to the upper rear edge of the box and the cover has an angular position in which it faces forwardly more than in its closed position.

3. A gift container including a box and a cover connected together by two pairs of links each pivoted at one end to the cover and at the other end, to the box, the length and shapes of the links and the positions of their pivots being such that the forward edge of the cover in opened position'rests in the close vicinity of the upper rear edge of the box, and the cover has an angular position in which it faces forwardly more than in its closed position, each of the said pairs of links including a forward link and a rear link, the forward link being longer than the rear link.

4. A gift container including a box and a cover connected together by two pairs of links each pivoted at one end to the cover and at the other end to the box, the length and shapes of the links and the positions of their pivots being such that the forward edge of the cover in opened position rests in the close vicinity of the upper rear edge of the box, and the cover has an angular position in which it faces forwardly more than in its closed position, each of the said pairs of links including a forward link and a rear link, the forward link being at least substantially as long as the rear link and pivoted to the box at a point lower than the p oint at, which the lower link is pivoted to the box.

.5. A gift container including a box and a cover connected together. by two pairs of links each pivoted-at one end to the cover and at the other end to the box, the lengthand shapes of the links and the positions of their pivots being such that the forward edge of the cover in opened position rests in the close vicinity of the upper rear'edge of thebox, and the cover has an angular position in which it faces forwardly more than in its closed position, each of the vsaid pairs of links including a forward link and a rear link, the forward link being longer than the rear link and pivoted to the box at a point lower than the point at which the lower link is pivoted to the box. i

6; A container including a box and a cover connected together by two pairs of links each pivoted' at one endto the coverand at the other end to the box, the length and shapes of the links and the positions of their pivots being such that the forward edge of the cover in opened position rests in the close vicinity of the upper rear edge of the box, and the cover has an angularposition in which it faces forwardly more than inits closed position. I

7. A gift container including a box and a cover connected together by two pairs of links each pivoted at one end to the cover andat theother end to the box, the lengthand shapes of the links and the positions of their pivots being such that the forward edge of the cover in opened position rests in the close vicinity of theupper rearIedge of the box, and the cover has an: angular position in which it faces forwardly more than in its closed position; said cover having a large opening therethrough and a medallion mountedthereon in such manner that each side of the medallion is visible from the corresponding side of the-cover, one side of the medallion beingT visiblethrough the opening in the cover.

FRANK, MILHEnINGi 

